Chromacryl Mediums, Varnishes and Brush Cleaners

Texture Paste

Texture Paste is a brushable, translucent modelling compound ideal for multiple texturing methods. It may be pigmented with Chromacryl paint to produce a coloured ground, or painted over to create texural effects when dry.

Key points:

It dries to a whitish finish

It will not become brittle or discolour with age

It is used to exaggerate textural effects, however it’s important to note, that the Texture Paste must dry before being painted over

Simply clean up with cold, soapy water

Textile Medium

Add Textile Medium to Chromacryl paint to make an immediate and effective textile paint with wash-fast durability. You can paint free-hand, block print or silk screen designs onto most natural fabrics. When dry, “fix” the colour into the fabric with heat. This can be done by ironing the fabric on a hot setting for at least 2 minutes. Place a sheet of aluminium foil over the fabric to be ironed to prevent the textile paint from sticking to the iron.

Note: when silkscreen printing with any acrylic based product including Chromacryl, it is advisable to add about 10% of retarder to the mixture on the screen, and the process must be carefully supervised to make sure that the paint does not dry on the screen. Consequently, silkscreen printing projects are usually simply one colour jobs for articles such as T-shirts.

Painting Medium Varnish

Painting Medium Varnish is the most versatile Chromacryl medium, giving good colour saturation, ideal for enriching and protecting finished artworks. It seals paper surfaces so that when acrylic paint is applied, the paint retains its richness. It rejuvenates colour when applied over dried acrylic paint.

Used as a retouch varnish, this product revives dull or old paintings which need to be displayed or worked on further.

When students reach a stage in their learning process whereby they need to be able to over paint to develop their paintings it is important to be able to control and gradate the edges of the wet paint being applied so that it merges with under painting rather than simply blotting it out. Sophisticated acrylic paintings with gradations are very difficult to do without the use of this Medium.

Chroma Solvent Finishing Varnishes are designed to protect finished acrylic or oil paintings. Because of their ease of use, we recommend using a solvent over a water-based varnish for artists new to varnishing.

Invisible Solvent Finishing Varnish maintains the low sheen look and does not alter the surface quality of a painting. It can also be used on oil paintings as a “retouch” varnish, while waiting out the advisable 3-6 month period for an oil painting to cure before applying a heavier protective varnish.

Satin Solvent Finishing Varnish contains a matting agent and the container needs to be shaken before use to make sure it is evenly suspended. For full bottles, remove some varnish so you can shake the contents easily, then return to the full bottle before using. Satin varnishes should never be diluted with turpentine, because the ratio of matting agent to acrylic is critical.

Gloss Solvent Finishing Varnish can be used for a more oil paint like look. Apply as is for a full gloss, usually one coat. To reduce gloss, add mineral turpentine to your taste. Try two parts varnish to 1 part turpentine, up to 1:1 for less sheen.

NOTE: This varnish contains an anti-mold additive that is diluted when you add turpentine, so to maintain the mould protection for tropical conditions dilute with Invisible Varnish instead.

These three varnishes are non-yellowing, self-leveling and protect against mold. They are strippable, which allow your painting to be cleaned more easily at a later date by swabbing with mineral spirits. Be sure to apply in a well-ventilated area.

Because they are solvent varnishes, you can apply them carefully to your Interactive painting before it has fully cured, but your painting must be touch-dry. The isolation coat is still recommended though, because you can remove your top varnish at a later date and come back to the protected painting. With an Archival Oil Painting, wait at least 3-6 months prior to applying a final varnish.

Artsupplies.co.nz is a 100% owned and operated kiwi business. For the past 20 years, we have provided a wide selection of products to kiwi artists to become New Zealand's one-stop shop for art supplies. We pride ourselves in both a wide range as well as unique and specialised products.